Ernie Els as a One Planer

This is one of the closest swings we’ve seen from Ernie Els that would classify him as a one plane swinger. This particular sequence — captured several years ago during a practice round at an event he went on to win — contains several valuable mechanics to study and is genuinely beautiful to watch in action.

At address, Ernie sets up with a fairly steep spine angle at approximately 40 degrees. His hands hang naturally and low from his shoulders, positioned within his chin line with what appears to be a mid iron — a textbook setup for consistent ball striking.

During the takeaway, Ernie’s head immediately shifts closer to the ball. As the club approaches parallel to the ground, the toe remains quite square and the club position tracks roughly over his toes, with his left arm angling inward toward his body. This early move sets the foundation for his characteristically smooth tempo.

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As his arm reaches parallel to the ground, the swing plane becomes quite steep, with the club pointing between his feet and the ball. Notice that the club never works behind him in this particular swing — a hallmark one plane trait — though his hands do sit more behind his chest at this point. Also observe how his head continues to move downward, maintaining his address posture beautifully.

At the top of the backswing, his arms and shoulders align on the same plane — a defining characteristic of the one plane approach — and his shoulder turn is notably steep. His head has moved significantly toward the ball compared to address. It will track back away from the ball during the downswing, creating that distinctive Ernie Els rhythm.

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